AMERICAN LIFE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 119, 23 May 1932, Page 8

AMERICAN LIFE

DISREGARD OF LAW POLICE AND GANGSTERS AUCKLANDER’S IMPRESSIONS. Some interesting light was thrown on life as it functions in the United States by an Aucklander, who had just returned last week after having spent a period of four years on the bacteriological staff at the tuberculosis hospital of the American Legion in Battle Creek, Michigan. “America is ruled by gangsters, graft and politicians, but if these elements could be removed the nation would be like that of any other,” he said. America was to-day over-run by the Latin element, which was responsible for a high percentage of the various forms of upheaval and lawlessness. The cosmopolitan population was clearly reflected in tho American Legion Hospital, where easily 85 to 90 pel cent of the patients could not read, write or speak English even moderately well. Yet these were “American citizens.” Of this 85 to 90 per cent., Italians formed the greatest part, then Greeks and Chinese. The true American citizen, however, was a fine individual, and he was generally of Anglo-Saxon blood, descendant of tho Pilgrim Fathers. He was not bombastic or “hard-boiled.”

“Speaking of the gangsters, the Aucklander said that it was no means an uncommon occurrence for three or four of them to enter a restaurant and makq their presence known and their intentions understood by ordering all diners to “stick ’em up!” While one or tw’o were covering all present with revolvers in either hand, their confederates would be taking the cash away between them, with the proprietors unable to move to prevent their night’s earnings being carried away before their eyes. Trams were often held up in the same way, and the conductor robbed of the day’s takings. The scene of one of these “hold-ups” was usually a terminus, when the trams ' were practically empty of pasengers. Between Detroit and Chicago the highways were patrolled daily by armoured cars manned by three or four police. Every car was equipped with radio and could instantly get in touch with tho police radio stations at Chicago or Detroit. The police in Chicago wore two revolvers, displayed on either thigh, and they did not hesitate to shoot when occasion called for it. The informant said he possessed tho overcoat of one young man who, being out of work, turned gunman and gangster, and was shot on sight when seen by a policeman when carrying out a till from a chemist’s shop. Tho coat, in which was tho bullet-hole, was given to him by the boy’s father.

Open Flouting of Law. “Everybody flouts the law openly in America, and laughs at it, too,” he said. Chicago merchants even advertised the price of their Christmas whisky, rum, beer and champagne in the daily newspapers. The address was, of course,, never given, “but you know where to get it all the same. Your private bootlegger calls around and takes your order.” Beer was Milwoukee, and when the Federal pobrewed by companies in the city of Milwaukee, and when the Federal police prosecuted the cases were always dismissed by the judges, who were elected by the people of the city. Yet Milwaukee had no “hold-ups” last year, and apparently had no gangsters. Death of Ph ar Lap. Discussing the death of Phar Lap, the Aucklander said that everybody was “crazy” about the horse in America, and that they were anxious to see him start in Chicago and other important centres, and were particularly anxious to see him break the world’s record. The general opinion in America was that Phar Lap was a sick horse when he ran in the Agua Caliente race, and that he got colic from being fed on tho Californian alfalfa grass. Gravity of Unemployment. The big problem in the States, like everywhere else, was to balance the Budget. Unemployment was probably worse than anywhere else in the world. Tho conditions were 50 per cent, worse in the United States than in New Zealand. The population of Los Angeles was just under two million, and when he left America there were 100,000 unemployed in the city. Welfare leagues were formed in most of tho cities, and natives of the cities got first opportunities when work was offering. This was done because several thousand people flocked into the south and south-west from places in the north, east and mid-west to escape the snows. The Aucklander was of the opinion that the most beautiful city he saw in America or Canada was Toronto. This was British, and the laws were British. The city was remarkable for its beautiful gardens and numerous recreation reserves. He drew an interesting com parison between border towns on either side of the Detroit. River and tho observance of tho laws in them. Detroit (U.S.A.) and Windsor (Canada), on either side of the river, won* opposite each other. On the one side one saw disregard of law and order, and on the other side, not more than half a mile across the river, respect for it. It demonstrated clearly the difference between American and English law. Tie said that tho same contrast could be applied to the towns Buffalo (U.S.A.) and Walkerville (Canada), between 300 and 400 miles further along the river. No gangster ever crossed to Canada for a safe haven from justice, because the Cana dian police wore “poison” to him.